INSTRUCTION MANUAL
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INSTANT EAR THERMOMETER


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Model MC-510
Thank you very much for
purchasing the Instant Ear
Thermometer. Be sure to read M

this Instruction Manual

thoroughly before use. Keep
this Instruction Manual at hand
for your future reference.

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Asia CT-01-21[MC-510]-8 1 10/1/03, 3:28 PM

Asia EN-02-20[MC-510]-9 10/1/03 11:59 AM Page 2

INTRODUCTION
TITLE
Thank you for purchasing the Gentle Temp ® Instant Ear Thermometer. This
remarkable instrument offers safe, accurate, and quick temperature
measurement from the ear canal, specifically the tympanic membrane
(eardrum).
How Does It Work?
The Gentle Temp ® Instant Ear Thermometer detects the infrared heat given off
by the eardrum and surrounding tissues, in one second.
The Gentle Temp ® is less threatening to a child than a rectal thermometer. It's
faster, safer and easier to use than an oral thermometer. There's no worry of
broken glass or mercury ingestion. Measurements can even be taken while a
child is sleeping. For adults, the Gentle Temp ® Instant Ear Thermometer offers
fast convenient, accurate readings without the wait of a conventional
thermometer.
Temperature From The Ear?
Clinical research has shown that the ear is an ideal site for taking body
temperature. The eardrum shares blood vessels with the hypothalamus, the
part of the brain that controls body temperature. Therefore, the ear is an
accurate indicator of internal body (core) temperature. An ear temperature,
unlike an oral temperature, is unaffected by factors such as talking, drinking,
and smoking.
Practice Makes Perfect
We recommend that you practice using the Gentle Temp ® on yourself and
family members when you are healthy. This way you can improve your
technique and feel more confident of the measurements you take when a family
member is ill.
Please read this instruction manual thoroughly before using your Gentle
Temp ® Instant Ear Thermometer. If you have questions about the
meaning of a specific temperature, please consult your doctor.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Notes on Safety ........................................................................................................3-4
Names of the parts.......................................................................................................5
Battery replacement .....................................................................................................5
Preparation Before Measurement.............................................................................6-8
Measurement in "One-Second Mode"..........................................................................9
After the measurement is finished..............................................................................10
Measurement in "Direct Mode" .............................................................................11-12
Advice for measuring the temperature of infant and young children..........................13
How to care and store the unit ...................................................................................14
About the Instant Ear Thermometer......................................................................15-16
Troubleshooting ....................................................................................................17-18
Q & A..........................................................................................................................19
Specifications .............................................................................................................20

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NOTESTITLE
ON SAFETY
Warning
Conducting self-diagnosis and/or treatment based on the
measurement results can be dangerous. Be sure to follow the
instruction of your doctor.
• Self-diagnosis may worsen the symptoms.
Be sure to attach the probe cover exclusive for this unit before
taking measurement.
• The infrared sensor may become dirty and correct measurement
result may not be possible.
Do not use the probe cover that was used by someone else.
• You may be exposed to infectious diseases such as otitis externa.
If the probe cover becomes dirty with earwax or other substances,
replace it with a new one.
• Correct measurement result may not be possible.
Do not touch the infrared sensor with the finger or breathe on it.
• The infrared sensor may become dirty and correct measurement
result may not be possible.
If the infrared sensor becomes dirty, lightly wipe it with a soft dry
cloth.
• If you wipe it with a tissue paper or a paper towel, the infrared
sensor will be damaged and may not be able to measure correctly.
Store the unit out of children's reach.
• Children may try to measure by themselves and cause damage
to the ear. If a child accidentally swallows a battery or a probe
cover, immediately consult with the doctor.
If the ear is cooled such as being exposed to the cold for a long
period, wait until the ear is warmed up, then measure.
• The measured result may be indicated low when you use an ice
bag or immediately after coming home from outside in winter.
If there is a difference in temperature between the place where the
unit is stored and the place where you are going to measure, leave
the unit in the room where you are going to use for more than
thirty minutes, then measure.
• Correct measurement result may not be possible.

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NOTES ON SAFETY TITLE

Caution
Do not forcibly insert the probe in the ear. If you feel abnormal
such as pain during measurement, stop using the unit.
• It may injure the external auditory canal.
Those suffering from ear disease such as otitis externa or otitis
media must not use the Instant Ear Thermometer.
• It may worsen the lesion.
Do not use the unit when the external auditory canal is wet such
as after swimming or a bath.
• It may injure the external auditory canal.
Do not discard battery into the fire.
• The battery may explode.
• When you inform the doctor of your temperature, make sure
to tell him/her that you measured the temperature in the ear.
• Do not use this unit other than for measuring the temperature
in the human ear.
• Do not apply strong shock to, drop, step on, or vibrate the
main unit.
• Do not use a portable phone near the unit.
• Do not disassemble, repair, or modify the unit.
• The main unit is not waterproof. Be sure that no liquids
(alcohol, water, or hot water) get into the main unit.

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NAMES OF
TITLE
THE PARTS

Infrared sensor Infrared sensor On/Measure

switch

Display

Probe Probe cover

Probe

BATTERY REPLACEMENT
* The unit you purchased already has a battery installed.
To replace with new battery, follow the procedure as
shown below.
(1) Release the screw, and remove the battery cover.
(2) Remove the battery.
Use an object with a small sharp tip such as the
toothpick to remove the battery. Do not use
metal tweezers or screwdriver.
(3) Put in a new battery with the plus (+)
side on the top.
(4) Close the battery cover and
tighten the screw. (3)
Discard the used batteries in
accordance with local
regulations regarding waste
(2)
disposal procedure. (1) (4)

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TITLE
PREPARATION BEFORE MEASUREMENT

TAKE NOTE !
If the unit has been stored in the cold, leave it in the room
where you are going to use for 30 minutes or more. Do not
warm the unit by holding it in your hands or near the stove.
Instead, place it in the room where you are going to use to
restore to the room temperature.
Store the unit in the room where you are going to
use it.
The temperature indicated may be higher than the actual, if
the unit has been kept in a lower temperature than the room
temperature where you are going to use it.
Start measurement after the body (ear) is warmed
up.
The measurement results indicated may be lower than the
actual temperature in the following cases.
• Immediately after returning to your home (especially in
winter)
• Measurement taken in a cold room
• When the head (ear) is cooled by the ice bag
Confirm the measuring method by understanding the
best way to insert the unit in the ear during normal
temperature condition.
• Check the angle when the highest measurement value is
indicated in stable condition.
• The measurement value may differ for each ear. Try to
measure the temperature from the ear that shows the
highest temperature in stable condition.

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PREPARATION BEFORE
TITLE MEASUREMENT

1 Attach a clean probe cover

Replacement of probe cover

Replace the probe cover in the following
cases.
• When it is dirty, broken, or damaged
• After someone else has used it

1) Remove the used 2) Attach a new

probe cover. probe cover.

Insert the probe cover

until it clicks.

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TITLE
PREPARATION BEFORE MEASUREMENT

2 Press the Switch.

The power is turned on. After the display

check is completed, "°C" flashes.

The " " mark

M
displayed at this
time is for display
M
check only.

The backlit screen

will be illuminated
for 2 seconds
when the switch
is pressed.

TO CHANGE °C/°F MEASUREMENT MODE

The thermometer default is set to Centigrade ˚C.
To change the unit of temperature from ˚C (Centigrade) to ˚F (Fahrenheit)
to follow the procedure shown below. From the off position (blank display):
1) Press and hold the Switch for "approx. 3 seconds." ˚C flashes on the LCD.
2) Remove your finger from the Switch.
3) Each time the Switch is pressed, ˚F and ˚C are displayed alternatively.
(5 seconds after pressing, the thermometer turns off automatically)
4) From the off position (Blank display) hold the thermometer switch for 5
seconds while ˚F is displayed.
5) The thermometer is set for ˚F mode. To select ˚C mode, start from Step 1.

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MEASUREMENT INTITLE
"ONE-SECOND MODE"

3 Insert the probe into the ear.

Hold the main unit with your fingers as shown
below. Insert the probe in the ear as far as it goes in
the direction of the eardrum.

ep!
When it beeps, Be
you can start the
measurement.

4 Press the Switch while the

unit is in the ear.
When the unit
beeps repeatedly,
the measurement
is finished.
p
Measurement finishes in
Bee Beep
approximately 1 second. ep ep
Press the switch to Be Be
illuminate the backlit
screen for 2 seconds. You
can quickly read the
results.
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AFTER THE MEASUREMENT

TITLE IS FINISHED
If you want to measure continuously:
• About 10 seconds after you
remove the unit from the ear,
a "°C" mark flashes.
• Return to Step 3 : Insert the
probe into the ear.
After
approximately
To end the measurement: 10 seconds
• In approximately 1 minute, the
unit will be turned off
automatically. It cannot be
turned off manually.

Memory Feature:
• The last measurement value is
stored automatically. It can be M
recalled when the unit is
turned on. The value will be
displayed with ‘M’ symbol.

Caution:
If main unit warms up after continuous measurement, allow
the unit to turn off automatically to avoid incorrect reading.
Then switch on again to continue measurement.

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MEASUREMENT
TITLE
IN "DIRECT MODE"
This is the measurement mode recommended when the
direction of the eardrum is difficult to find such as when
measuring the temperature of an infant.
Prepare for measurement in accordance with
Sections 1 and 2 in pages 6-7.

3 Insert the probe into the ear.

Hold the main unit with your fingers as shown
below. Insert the probe in the ear as far as it goes in
the direction of the eardrum.

When it beeps, ep!

you can start the Be
measurement.

4 Shift the probe right and left.

The unit automatically detects the temperature of the
eardrum in 10 seconds maximum.
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MEASUREMENT IN "DIRECT MODE" TITLE

! !
eep eep
B B

Slightly shift the unit right and left.

Be ep!
!
ep
Be
36.5°c 36.8°c 36.5°c 36.8°c

External Eardrum External Infrared

auditory auditory rays Eardrum
canal canal

The unit tries to detect the temperature as shown above.

5 When the unit beeps, press the switch

while the unit is in the ear.

When the unit beeps

repeatedly, the
measurement is finished.
The unit displays the
highest temperature it
detects during the
measurement.

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TITLE
ADVICE FOR MEASURING
THE TEMPERATURE OF INFANT AND
YOUNG CHILDREN

Lightly
support the
Lightly child's body.
support the
child's body.

When infant is lying down When infant sits up

e ear
y pull th .
Slightl ds the back
towar

Measuring for a child If the ear is too small to insert

the probe:
While slightly pulling the ear
towards the back, insert probe
without force so that it just
cover the external auditory
canal.

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CLEANINGTITLE
AND STORING
When measurement is finished, clean and store the unit.

How to clean the unit

Main unit
Wipe off dirt on the main unit with a soft dry cloth.
Never wash the unit or clean with a cleaner containing
abrasive, thinner, or benzine.
Infrared sensor
When the infrared sensor becomes dirty, wipe it lightly with
a soft dry cloth or a cotton swab.
Do not wipe the infrared sensor with a tissue paper or a
paper towel.

How to store the unit

After cleaning the unit, attach probe
cover and store the unit in the
storage case.
It is recommended to store the unit
in the place where you usually use
so that it can be used immediately
when needed.
Probe covers are consumables. Additional probe covers
can be purchased at OMRON’s representative stores.
Do not store the unit under direct sunshine, where the
temperature and humidity are high, in dusty places, near
the fire, or where vibration and/or shock can be applied
easily.

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ABOUT THE INSTANT

TITLE
EAR THERMOMETER
The Instant Ear Thermometer model MC-510 measures
the temperature of the eardrum by infrared sensor.
As ambient temperature, sweat,
or saliva easily affects the body
temperature measured under
the arm or the tongue, the
measurement value indicated is
lower than the inner body
Eardrum
temperature.
On the other hand, the tympanic
temperature reflects the brain
temperature, and can help in the
quick detection of fever.

Infrared sensor
Infrared
rays

External Eardrum
auditory
canal

Advice:
Take note of the "normal temperatures" in the ear
of all family members as a reference for future use.

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- What is ear temperature - TITLE

Body temperature differs by the place it is measured (in the
ear, in the mouth, or under the arm).
A study conducted by OMRON indicates that many people
show higher temperature in the ear.
Exceptions: some people show lower temperature when measured in the
ear, and for some the temperature difference between the ear and the arm
is more than 1°C (1.8°F).

Distribution of temperatures measured

in the ear and those measured under the arm
(°c)
Under the arm 37.7~ Ear (MC-510)
~37.6
~37.4
~37.2
~37.0
~36.8
~36.6
~36.4
~36.2
~36.0
~35.8
~35.6
~35.4
~35.2
100 50 0 0 50 100
people

Please understand the normal temperature differences

between the one measured in the ear and the one under
the arm and use as a guide for temperature reading of a
suspected fever.

In order to make a correct judgement on the fever

condition, it is important to learn the normal temperatures
of family members by measuring their temperatures
when they are in good physical conditions.

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TROUBLESHOOTING
TITLE
Trouble What to check How to correct
Replace the battery
Nothing is displayed Is the battery flat?
with a new one.
even after I pressed
the switch. Are the polarities of Place the battery in the
battery (+ and -) wrong? correct position.

Replace the battery

The battery is flat.
After all the symbols on with a new one.
display illuminate, a
" " mark is displayed.

Backlighting of display Low battery. Replace battery.

is not turned on.

Is the probe cover Replace the probe

dirty? cover with a new one.

Is the infrared sensor Clean the infrared sensor

Even after I insert the dirty? with a cotton swab.
unit in the ear, the "0"
mark is not displayed. Is your ear stuffed with Remove the earwax
earwax? with a cotton swab.

The temperature of If you insert the unit in

M
the main unit is 34°C the ear and press the
(93.2°F) or above. switch, you can
A "0 0" mark is displayed. measure in 1-second
mode. However, you
cannot use the
"Directional Mode" in
this condition.

Did you forget to attach Attach the probe cover,

the probe cover? then measure.
A "PC" mark is displayed.

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TROUBLESHOOTING
TITLE
Trouble What to check How to correct
Did you remove the Remove the
thermometer before thermometer from the
ear only after the
The measured result is the measurement is measurement is
below 34°C (93.2°F). finished? finished.
Consult at the store
Is the infrared sensor
where you purchased
broken?
the unit.
The measured result
exceeds 42.2°C Is the probe cover Replace the probe cover
(108.0°F). broken? with a new one.

The temperature of the Leave the unit in the

main unit is appro- room where you are
ximately 10°C (50°F) going to measure so that
or below or it fluctuates. the unit is accustomed to
the temperature of that
You cannot measure room before measuring
the body temperature again. Note operating
The temperature of the when the temperature room temperature should
main unit is appro- of the main unit is in be 10°C to 40°C.
ximately 40°C (104°F) this range.
If you store the unit in
or above.
the room where you
are actually going to
measure, you can
The temperature of the measure immediately.
main unit change by
more than 5°C.
Leave the unit for 1 minute and it will switch off
automatically. Then turn on again.
If the "Er.1" is displayed again, the unit may be
An "Er.1 " mark is in trouble. Consult at the store where you
displayed. purchased the unit.

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QUESTIONS
TITLE
& ANSWERS
How many times can I measure consecutively?
You can measure consecutively up to three times. After that the main unit
will be warmed up and may not be able to measure correctly. If you are
going to measure more than four times, wait for ten minutes, then
measure again.
The temperature indicated is rather high. What are the
causes?
1) The probe cover is broken.
2) The temperature measured under the arm is relatively lower.
When measuring the temperature under the arm, it is necessary to
measure for ten minutes to obtain a correct value. When the
measuring time under the arm is short, the measured value tends to be
low.
3) You used the thermometer that had been stored in the cold. Measure
the temperature after leaving the unit for more than thirty minutes in
the room where you are going to take temperature. If you store the unit
in the room where you are going to measure the temperature, you can
use the thermometer immediately.
Is the temperature measured in the right ear different from
that measured in the left ear?
For healthy people, there should be almost no difference in the
measurement results, the following conditions may cause differences in
the readings:-.
1) The infrared sensor is not inserted in the same way.
2) Measurement is not conducted in a stable manner by inserting the unit
at the same angle.Try to measure in the ear that can show the highest
measurement value constantly.
The temperature indicated is rather low. What are the
causes?
1) The probe cover is dirty.
2) The infrared sensor is dirty.
3) The unit is removed from the ear before the measurement is finished.
4) The ear is cooled. The temperature indicated tends to be low when you
use an ice bag, or immediately after coming home in winter.
5) The thermometer is not inserted deep enough in the ear.
6) The infrared sensor is not directed towards the eardrum. Alternatively,
you can use the "Direct Mode".

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SPECIFICATIONS
TITLE
Name : Instant Ear Thermometer
Model : MC-510
Voltage : 3 VDC (lithium battery CR2032)
Power consumption : 0.05 W
Battery life : Measurements of approx. 2000 times *(when
used consecutively under the environment of
23°C or 73.4°F)
*Indicates that measurement can be carried out up to
a certain number of times until the voltage of the battery
has dropped to the low battery stage while the
backlight keeps illuminating.
Sensor : Thermopile
Temperature indication : In 3 digits in +°C in the unit of 0.1°C (or in
4 digits in +°F in the unit of 0.1°F)
Precision : 34.0 to 35.9°C (93.2 to 96.7°F), 39.1 to 42.2°C
(102.3 to 108.0°F) : ±0.3°C (±0.5°F) 36.0 to
39.0°C (96.8 to 102.2°F) : ±0.2°C (±0.4°F)
Based on measurement of the standard black body at
room temperature of 23°C(73.4°F)

Measurement range : 34 to 42.2°C (93.2 to 108°F)

Weight : Approx. 50g (including the battery)
External dimensions : Approx. 45 (W) x 94 (H) x 58 (D)
Operating environment : Ambient temperature; 10 to 40°C (50 to 104°F)
Relative humidity; 30 to 85%
Storage environment : Ambient temperature; -20 to 60°C (-4 to 140°F)
Relative humidity; 10 to 95%
Accessories : Storage case, Instruction Manual,
✻
probe covers (10 pieces)
A probe cover is already attached to the main unit.
Options : Probe cover exclusive for Gentle Temp™ series.
Omron reserves the right to change specifications without prior notice.
✻
Omron is not liable for use of probe cover, unless it is designed and supplied by Omron.

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